100 Years ago today, Ronald Wilson 'Dutch' Reagan was born in Tampico Illinois. He would go on to be an athlete, a well known actor, a husband, a father and one of the most powerful leaders of our time. I was too young to vote for Ronald Reagan but I loved listening to him talk to our country!
When asked what he wanted people to remember about his presidency, Ronald Regan said, "Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, and not your worst fears; to your confidence, rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way." He just had a magical way of stirring up what was best in America; in good times and in bad. In 1986, just hours after the space shuttle Challenger disaster Ronald Regan shared these words with our mourning country: "The crew of the space shuttle Challenger, honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God'." (If you would like to listen to or read the full speech, please visit www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-challenger.htm)
Ronald Reagan was motivated by bold, powerful principles. He dedicated his eight years in the White House to championing free enterprise, limiting government, reducing taxes, bolstering America's economy and strengthening our military to protect our nation. One of his greatest gifts to Americans was to make us believe again in both our country and ourselves. We need to borrow a page from our past and remember the things that make us great as a country!
Please visit www.ReaganRanch.org and support the preservation of this wonderful organization!
Happy Birthday Mr. President!
